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4 Sheets-Sheet 1.,

(No'ModeL) R. BAGALEYQ MANUFACTURE OF MQLDS FOR CASTING. No. 357,303.

Patented Feb. 8; 1887.

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. 4 Sheets-Sheet '(No Model.)

' R. BAGALE'Y. MANUFACTURE OF MOLDS FOR CASTING.

Patented Feb. 8, 1887.

INVENT N. PETERS, Hwmumo n her, wauw eu. D. c.

(No Model.) v i 4 Sheets-Sheet. 3. R. BAGALEY.

MANUFACTURE OF MOLDS- FOR cAsTlfie. No. 357,303.. Patented Pb. 8, 1887.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

R. BAG ALEY- MANUFACTURE OF MOLDS FOR CASTING.

Patented Feb". 8, 1887.

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& E s s E N n w N Farms. Plmmuuw m ner. Washmglon. D, C.

the apparatus.

' UNITED STATES Erica.

PATENT MANUFACTURE OF MOLDS FOR CASTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,303, dated February 8, 1887.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, RALPH BAGALEY, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen'of the United' States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Molds for Casting, of which improvement the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved molding apparatus. Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the compacting and discharging trough and the discharge-regulating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a view of the same in side elevation. Fig. 4 is asectional view on the line x :r, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the trough, showing means for laterally adjusting the same. Fig. 6 is a view in elevation showing a modified form of Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the molding-table. Fig. 8 is a sectional View of a guide or feed-hopper. Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of my improved molding apparatus, the flasks being shown in position.

In general foundry practice it is customary for each molder to temper and sift the sand he is to use and shovel and ram the same into the flasks. These operations, which consume the major part of the time, are such as should properly be performed by unskilled labor, and thereby allow the skilled operative to confine his attentions to such work as necessitates skillful manipulations.

The object of. the invention herein is to so construct and arrange a molding apparatus that such operations as sifting or tempering V the sand and the transferring and compacting of the same within the flasks may be effected bymachinery or by unskilled labor; and, further, that the rapidity and order of movements of the skilled operator may govern the movements of the operators performing the auxiliary work.

In carrying out my invention I propose to avoid the use of packers or rammers for comconveyed by any suitable means.

Molds and cores have heretofore been formed by dropping the sand from a considerable height, butiu such cases the sand is sprinkled or dropped in separate particles, and hence, as the air will present a considerable resistance and the weight of the individual particles is very small, the sand will not drop with sufficient force to effect the desired density. To overcome this difficulty I propose to compact the sand, and while in a comparatively dense mass or lump to permit it to drop into the flask. more strongly by the force of gravity and will not be subjected to so great an extent to the retarding influence of the air.

To these ends the invention consists in the method and apparatus substantially as here-' inafter described and claimed. In its most simple form my apparatus consists of a guiding tube or spout, 1, (see Fig. 6,) suspended through an opening, 2, in an elevated platform, 3, to whichtempered and sifted sand or other molding material can be The sand on the platform is compacted by tramping thereon, or by blows of a shovel or rammer, or by-any other suitable means whereby the particles of sand or molding material are caused to adhere together when a portion of the whole mass is separated by means of a shovel or other separating and transferring device or implement. After the sand has been thus compacted on the platform, the workman will take a shovelful of the compacted sand and drop the same through the spout 1 into a flask located under the end thereof. Any suitable means, automatic or otherwise, may be used for compacting the sand, either in lumps of any desired size or in large masses from which portions can be detached and dropped into the flasks, care being taken that the integrity of the lumps be not destroyed before they reach the flask. The body of the spout is formed of any suitable material, preferably sheet-iron, and may be provided at its lower end with a flexible nozzle, 4: whereby the sand may be guided to different parts of the flask, as desired. This form of apparatus is especially applicable in forming large molds, as the discharge-mouth of the tube or spout can be easily swung over any portion of the mold,

Such a mass or body will be acted on' as desired. The sand may be compacted by any suitable means and dropped in lumps or masses into the spout or trough.

The form of apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is intended more especially for general foundry work, where the sizes of the flasks used range within comparatively narrow limits. This apparatus consists of the guiding and preliminary compacting trough or spout 1, a bucket-elevator, 5, for supplying tempered and sifted sand to the trough 1 from the hopper 6, a screen, 7, connected to the hopper by chute 8, and the molding-table 9, also connected to the hopper by the chute 10.

The molding material, after being properly tempered, is shoveled into the screen 7, which is operated, as shown, by machinery. From the screen the material is conveyed by the chute 8 into the hopper 6, and from thence it is carried by the bucket-elevator 5 to the upper end of the trough A. The trough A is formed in two parts, 11 and 12, the part 12 being hinged to thelower part, 1l,which is provided with side boards, 13, extending up along the part 12, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the bracket 14. The part 12 is normally held in line with the lower part, 11, by the spring 15, the tension of which is adjusted to support the part 12 in normal position until the trough A is filled with sand, when the weight of the sand will tip the part 12 backward. This movement of the part 12 will shift thelever 16 connected thereto, and such movement of the lever shifts the power-belt 17 from the drivingpulley 18, operating the bucket-elevator to the loose pulley 19, thereby stopping the operation of the elevator-buckets until the part 12 is returned to normal position by the action of the spring 15, which will act as soon as the sand is discharged from the part 12. A gate or valve, 20, is arranged in suitable grooves at the lower end of the part 11, said gate being normally held in a closed position by the springs 21, and being raised to discharge the sand by the lever 22, which is operated by a handle, 23, hanging down into convenient proximity to the operator.

In order to regulate the amount to be discharged on the raising of the gate or Valve 20, a slide, 24, is located over the part 11. This slide 24 is provided with lateral wings 25 at its upper end, projecting into grooves in the side bars, 26, of a frame formed by said side bars, 26, and their connecting cross-pieces 27. One end of the upper crossbar, 27, is extended beyond the frame, (see Fig. 2,) and on it is pivoted the slide-operating lever 28, said lever being connected to a handle, 29, pivoted to one of the side bars, 26, within easy reach of the operator. The lever and slide are normally held at the upper limit of their movement by the spring 30. To the side bars, 26, are secured cross-bars 31, in the ends of which are mounted the axles of the wheels 32, said wheels resting upon rails 33, secured by brackets 34 to the under side of the part 11 of the trough A. On the under sides of the rails 33 are formed or secured toothed racks 35, with which the pinions 36 intermesh, said pinions being mounted on ashaft, 37, journaled in the side bars, 26. On the same shaft 37 is also mounted a grooved wheel, 38, which is operated by a rope, 39, passing around it and a similar wheel, 40, mounted on a shaft, 41, journaled in the lower ends of the side bars, 26. The side bars, 26, are each formed in two pieces, arranged at such an angle to each other that the pieces carrying the slide 24 are held at right angles to the trough A, while the other pieces hang in a practically vertical position, and with their lower ends within convenient proximity to the operator.

The lower end of the trough l is inovably supported by a rope,42, or other flexible means, for the purpose ofpermitting the lateral movement of the lower end over a series of molds. The lateral movement is effected by the ropes 43, connected to opposite sides of the trough or tube A, (see Fig. 5,) and passed around guidepulleys 44, mounted on the post 45. These ropes are arranged to hang accessible to the operator.

In forming comparatively small molds the flasks are arranged upon a table, 46, provided with openings 47, through which the patterns can be withdrawn, a stripping-plate being placed over the openings to support the sand during the removal of the pattern. Beneath the table are arranged levers or treadles 48, connected to a piston operating in the openings 47, and having the patterns connected thereto. In order that the sand may be properly guided into the flask, I provide a funnel,

49, having legs 50 oi'suitable length to support the funneljust clear ofthe flask. As thelower end of the funnel should correspond in shape and size to the shape of the flask to be filled, it is necessary to provide a series of these funnels in general foundry-work.

The inner walls of the trough A are made as smooth as practicable, in order that the sand may slide freely therein, and the sides thereof should be made parallel or slightly flaring toward its lower end, to permit of a free discharge of the molding material. The trough A should be made of such a length that the superincumbent sand will compact the sand at and adjacent to the end gate, 20, to such a degreethat it will drop from the trough in lumps when said gate is opened.

The amount of sand to be discharged at each molding operation is regulated by the knife or slide 24, which is moved along the trough just previous to the opening of the cnd'gate 20 until sufficiently far from the end-gate to inclose the desired amount of sand. The slide is then forced down through the sand by the handle 29, and held there by means of pegs, as shown, until the end-gate has been opened to discharge the sand between said gate and slide. As soon as the gate is closed the slide the rope 39, and thus force the sand out of the trough.

In case the sand adjacent to the gate is not compacted to the desired density by the superincumbent mass, the slide, after being forced down into the sand, can be moved toward the gate before the latter is opened, and thereby effect a. further compacting of the sand.

I have ascertained by experiment that by dropping the sand in comparatively dense lumps or masses into a flask a more uniform density is produced than is possible by the use of rammers or analogous devices. The density of the sand in the flask can be regulated either by the height of the fall of the lumps or by the degree of compactness imparted to the material being dropped, or by both of these methods.

In forming molds of the ordinary size the slide should be adjusted so that sufficient sand would be dropped to completely fill the mold at one discharge; but in filling large flasks the sand can be dropped as the exigencies of the occasion may dictate.

After the sand has been dropped into the flask, any surplus sandis struck off in the usual way, the pattern withdrawn, and the mold removed to the casting-floor by an attendant.

It will be perceived that with my improved plant the skilled workman is relieved of all such Work as sifting, tempering, and ramming the mold, his duties being only such as absolutely require skill and experience.

In machine molding it is generally customary to first form a series of drags and then a series of copes. This, however, is objectionable, as the sand in the drags is dried out by the exposure; hence I prefer to form both parts in immediate succession or simultaneously.

- To this end the table 4.6 is provided with two be formed successively by swinging the trough A first over one part and then over the other,

or by the use of two troughs located side by side. Two operators may work at the same time, one forming copes and theother drags. 5 5

I claim herein as my invention 1. As an improvement in the art of forming molds for casting, the method hereindescribed, which consists in dropping the molding material in comparatively compact masses into the flask containing the pattern, substantially as set forth.

2. As an improvement in the art of forming molds for casting, the method herein described, which consists in compacting the material into comparatively densemasses,and then dropping such compacted masses into the flask containing the patterns, substantially as set forth.

' 3. In a plant for forming molds for casting, the combination of means for compacting the 7( molding material, and means for discharging suchcompacted material intothe flask, substantially as set forth. 7 V

4. In a plant for forming molds, the combination of a trough, agatefor opening and closing the end of said trough, and a slide movable in and out of the trough and adjustable along its length, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a plant for forming molds, the combination of a trough having a movable section, an elevator for raising material to the trough, and means connecting the movable section and the driving mechanism of the elevator, said parts being so constructed and arranged that the movement of the movable section will 8 5 regulate the operation of the elevator, substantially as set forth.

6. In a plant for forming molds, the combination of a trough, a gate for opening and closing the end of the trough, a reciprocating 0 frame carried by said trough, and a slide mounted in the frame and means for moving the slidein and out of the trough, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 5 my hand.

RALPH BAGALEY.

W'itnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLoorT, R. H. WHITTLESEY. 

